Fastening device



May 9, 1939. l w. TUCKER FASTENING DEVICE Filed Nov. 6, 1957 E K m u or M Patented May 9, 1939 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30,

This application is made under the act of- March 3, 1883, as amended by the act of April 30, 1928, and the invention herein described and claimed, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a slide fastener, and one of its objects is to provide such a fastener for use on articles, such as luggage, clothing, or other articles, which is adaptable for any length of closure desired;

Another object of this invention is to pi'ovide such alfastener that will be water proof and air it tight...

The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing will disclose my invention more fully, its combinations and operations of parts, and further objects and. advantages thereof will be apparent.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a plan view of this of its forms.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectionalv view of Figure 1 5 along the line 2-4.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the key member hereinafter designated by the numeral ii.

Figure 4 is a side view of Figure 3. Figure 5 is an end view of Figure-3. Referring with more particularity to the drawinvention in one ing, in which like numerals designate like parts,

the numerals i and 2, respectively, designate opposite edges of the material or object to be fastened. The tongue '3, consisting of a continuous flanged strip of metal, or other suitable material, is secured to one of the edges of the object to be fastened, say the edge i, by any suitable means, such as rivets or clamps. The fixe'd'jaw member i is likewise secured to the edge 2 of said object and is equal in length to the tongue 3. This jaw member is designed to register with the under side of the flange of the tongue 3, substantially as shown in Figure 2. A plurality of additional jaw members 5 are hingedly mounted onthe said fixed jaw member 4 by means of brackets 6 secured to said jaw members 5, brackets I secured to said jaw member I, and pivot bearings 8. The brackets 6 are secured between the ends of the jaws 5, and springs 9 normally maintain the hinged jaws in an open position. Knobs iii are provided to limit the hinged movements of said jaws 5, against the action of the springs 9. The under sides of the jaws 5 are designed to register with the upper side of the flange of the tongue 3, substantially as shown in Figure 2. The hinged jaws are forced tight against the tongue 3 by means of a key member i I, which key member is adapted to be wedged between the fixed jaw and the hinged jaws, substantially as shown.

The said keyv member ii is a cylindrical rod having its forward end tapered to almost a point. A guide fiange I2-is fixed to thetapered end of said rod and is designed to slide through the dovetailed longitudinal groove I3 of the fixed jaw member 4. The key member ll upon insertion clamps the jaws 5 on the tongue 3 so that said tongue is rigidly held between the fixed jaw 4 andthe hinged jaws 5.

To make this device water tight, as well as air tight, a gasket ii of rubber, leather, or any other suitable material is fixedly mounted between the tongue 3 and the fixed jaw member i, as shown. This gasket also acts as a cushion between the said tongue and the said jaw member.

To open this fastener, the key it is removed by sliding it out. A lip i5 fixed to the tapered portion of the said key is provided to facilitate this removal, after which the hinged jaws 5 automatically open by the force of the springs 9, thereby unclamplng the tongue 3.

While for the purpose of illustration a particuv lar form of this invention has been shown, it is not to be assumed that this is in any way a limitation on the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A continuous slide fastener for meeting edges of an article, comprising a continuous jaw secured to one of said edges, a tongue member secured to the other edge, a plurality of additional jaws independently hinged on said continuous jaw, said additional jaws being adapted to coact with said continuous jaw to embrace said tongue member, and removable means for holding said hinged jaws in closed relation.

'2. A continuous slide fastener for meeting edges of an article comprising a continuous jaw secured to one of said edges, a tongue member secured to the other edge, a plurality of additional jaws hinged on said continuous jaw, resilient ,means for normally holding said hinged jaws in an open relation, said hinged jaws being adapted to coact with said continuous jaw to embrace said tongue member,'.and removable means for holding said hinged jaws in closed relation against the action of said resilient means.

3. A continuous slide fastener as defined by claim 2 having a gasket disposed between the tongue member and the fixed jaw.

4.. A continuous slide fastener .for meeting edges of an article comprising a continuous jaw secured to one of said edges, a tongue member secured to the other edge, a plurality of additional jaws independently hinged on said vcontinuous jaw, said hinged jaws having a portion adapted to coact with said continuous jaw to embrace said tongue member, removable means for holding said hinged jaw in closed relation, said removable means coinprising a longitudinal groove in said continuous jaw beneath said hinged jaws on the side of their hinged points opposite the tongue embracing portion, and a rod having a flange secured to it at one end, said flange being adapted to slidably register in said groove.

5. A continuous slide fastener for meeting edges of an article comprising a continuous jaw secured to one of said edges, a tongue member secured to the other edge, a plurality of additional jaws independently hinged on said continuous jaw, said hinged jaws having a portion adapted to coact with said continuous jaw to embrace said tongue member, removable means for holding said hinged jaw in closed relation, said removable means comprising a longitudinal groove in said continuous jaw beneath said hinged jaws on the side 01' their hinged points opposite the tongue embracing portion, and a rod tapered at one end having a flange secured to it at its tapered end, said flange being adapted to slidably register in said groove. 5

6. A continuous slide fastener for meeting edges of an article comprising a continuous jaw secured to one 01' said edges, a tongue member secured to the other edge, a plurality of additional jaws independently hinged on said continuous 1 movable means comprising a longitudinal groove 15 in said continuous jaw beneath said hinged jaws on the side of their hinged points opposite the tongue embracing portion, a rod tapered at one end having a flange secured to it at its tapered end, said flange being adapted to slidably register 20 in said groove, and a projecting lip secured to; x

the tapered end or said rod.

IRWIN W. TUCKER. 

